The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of heat treatments on the control of white rot caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea on 'Fuji' apples (Malus domestica). Apples were immersed for either 1, 2 or 3 min in hot water at 47, 49 or 52 °C. Before the heat treatments, the apples were inoculated with the fungus B. dothidea. After the treatments, apples were stored at 0-1 °C in controlled atmosphere (CA) with 1.2 - 1.6 kPa O2 and 0.2 - 0.4 kPa CO2 or in refrigerated air storage for one, three or five months. After each storage period, samples were transferred to room temperature for seven days and evaluated for lesion diameter and quality parameters. Hot water heat treatment at 47 °C for 3 min reduced lesion diameter of Fuji apples under CA storage. The CA storage resulted in better quality apples.
